View source for La Tuque, Quebec

{{Short description|City in north-central Quebec, Canada}}
{{Distinguish|El Tuque|Tuque (disambiguation){{!}}Tuque}}
{{Redirect|La Tuque|other uses|La Tuque (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = La Tuque
| official_name            = 
| settlement_type          = [[City (Quebec)|City]]
| nickname                 = ''{{Lang|fr|Reine de la Haute-Mauricie}}'' ("Queen of Haute-Mauricie")<ref>{{cite web |author1=Marie-Soleil Desautels |title=Toponymie - Histoires de Villages |url=https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/4e36-dfd4-5175794e-a1d7-2dc3ac1c6068%7C_0.html |website=La Presse+ |publisher=La Presse Inc. |access-date=9 January 2023 |date=24 April 2013}}</ref>
| image_skyline            = La Tuque centre-ville.jpg
| image_caption            = Downtown La Tuque
| image_flag               = Drapeau La Tuque.png
| flag_size                = 
| image_shield             = Blason ville ca La Tuque (Québec).svg
| shield_size              = 100x80px
| motto                    = ''{{Lang|la|Industriis et labore cresco}}''<br />(Industry and work to grow)
| image_map                = La Tuque Quebec location diagram.png
| map_caption              = Location within the former Le Haut-Saint-Maurice RCM
| pushpin_map              = Canada Central Quebec
| pushpin_label_position   = left
| pushpin_label            = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in central Quebec
| coordinates              = {{coord|47|26|N|72|47|W|region:CA-QC|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="toponymie"/>
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[Canada]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Quebec]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Region (Quebec)|Region]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Mauricie]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Regional county municipality|RCM]]
| subdivision_name3        = ''None''
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1850s
| established_title1       = Constituted
| established_date1        = March 26, 2003
| established_title2       = 
| established_date2        = 
| government_footnotes     = <ref name=mamrot>{{cite web |title=Répertoire des municipalités: La Tuque |url=https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/90012/ |website=www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca |publisher=Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation |access-date=9 January 2023 |language=fr}}</ref>
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Luc Martel
| leader_title1            = [[List of Canadian federal electoral districts|Federal riding]]
| leader_name1             = [[Saint-Maurice—Champlain]]
| leader_title2            = [[List of Quebec provincial electoral districts|Prov. riding]]
| leader_name2             = [[Laviolette (provincial electoral district)|Laviolette]]
| total_type               = Total
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="mamrot"/><ref name="sc2021">{{cite web |title=La Tuque, Ville (V) Quebec [Census subdivision] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=la%20tuque&DGUIDlist=2021A00052490012&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 28293.71
| area_land_km2            = 24809.40
| area_urban_footnotes     = <ref name="cp21-PC">{{cite web |title=La Tuque, Quebec [Population centre] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=la%20tuque&DGUIDlist=2021S05100435&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>
| area_urban_km2           = 6.33
| area_metro_km2           = 
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="sc2021"/>
| population_total         = 11129
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_density_km2   = 0.4
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="cp21-PC"/>
| population_urban         = 7464
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1179.0
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_blank1_title  = Pop&nbsp;<small>(2016-21)</small>
| population_blank1        = {{increase}} 1.2%
| population_blank2_title  = Dwellings
| population_blank2        = 6930
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset               = −5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = −4
| postal_code_type         = [[Canadian postal code|Postal code(s)]]
| postal_code              = [[List of G postal codes of Canada|G9X]]
| area_code                = [[Area code 819|819]]
| blank_name               = Highways
| blank_info               = {{jct|state=QC|QC|155}}
| website                  = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''La Tuque''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɑː|_|'|t|j|uː|k}} {{respell|lah|_|TEWK}}, {{IPA|fr|la tyk|lang}}, {{IPA|fr-CA|la t͡sʏk|label=[[Canadian French]]:}}) is a city located in north-central [[Quebec]], Canada, on the [[Saint-Maurice River]], between [[Trois-Rivières]] and [[Chambord, Quebec|Chambord]]. The population was 11,129 at the [[2021 Canadian census]], most of which live within the [[Population centre (Canada)|urban area]]. At over {{Convert|28,000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it is the [[List of the largest cities and towns in Canada by area|largest city in Canada by area]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Misachi |first=John |date=26 September 2017 |title=The Largest Canadian Cities By Land Area |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-canadian-cities-by-land-area.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924053527/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-canadian-cities-by-land-area.html |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |access-date=30 July 2020 |website= |publisher=WorldAtlas}}</ref>

The {{Lang|fr|Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie}} [[canoe]]ing race begins at La Tuque.

The name, which dates to the eighteenth century, originates from a nearby rock formation which resembles a French-Canadian knitted cap known as the [[tuque]].

In 1823–24, the explorer François Verreault described the location as:
{{blockquote|''{{Lang|fr|« un Portage nommé Ushabatshuan (le courant trop fort pour le sauter). Les Voyageurs le nomment la Tuque, à cause d'une Montagne haute, dont le pic ressemble à une Tuque. Ce portage est d'une lieue, avec des fortes côtes à monter »}}.''<br/>
("a portage named Ushabatshuan ('the rapids too strong to jump'). The voyageurs call it La Tuque, due to a tall mountain whose peak resembles a "tuque." The [[portage]] is a [[League (unit)|league]] long, and climbs steep slopes.")<ref name="toponymie">{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/CT/toposweb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=285890 |title=La Tuque (Ville) |access-date=2010-03-04 |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |language=fr}}</ref>}}

The hat-shaped mountain which gave its name to the town of La Tuque is located between the [[Saint-Maurice River]] (left bank) and the [[WestRock]] paper mill. The summit of this mountain is about {{Convert|245|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is located {{Convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the river and about {{Convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}} upstream (northeast side) of the La Tuque hydroelectric power plant.

==History==
The territory of La Tuque was first inhabited by [[Atikamekw]] Indigenous people. In the early 1850s, settlers were drawn to the area to exploit the forest resources. The La Tuque Post Office opened in 1887, but the area remained isolated from the rest of the [[Mauricie]] until the early 1900s when the [[National Transcontinental Railway]] was built, prompting industrial development and the growth of a community on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River where there was a large set of falls.<ref name="toponymie"/>

On November 15, 1909, the Village Municipality of La Tuque was incorporated, with Achille Comeau as first mayor. A few months later on April 4, 1910, the Village Municipality of La Tuque Falls was formed, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor. Less than one year later in March 1911, both villages merged to form the Town of La Tuque, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor.<ref name="toponymie"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ville.latuque.qc.ca/vlt/images/stories/pdf/Liste_maires.pdf |title= Ville de La Tuque - Liste des maires 1909 à 2013 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the 1940s, the hydro-electric generating station on the Saint-Maurice River was built, resulting in the partial destruction of the rock formation that gave the town its name.<ref name="toponymie"/>

In 1972, the Municipality of Haute-Mauricie was formed out of portions from the unincorporated Carignan and Malhiot Townships, in the proximity of the [[Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve]]. However, its low population and constantly rising administrative costs led to the merger of Haute-Mauricie with La Tuque in August 1993.<ref name="toponymie"/>

On March 26, 2003, [[Le Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality]] was dissolved and all its municipalities and unorganized territories were amalgamated into the new City of La Tuque, thereby becoming the largest municipality with city status in land area in Quebec, and [[List of the largest cities and towns in Canada by area|largest in Canada]] (38,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). On January 1, 2006, the municipalities of [[La Bostonnais, Quebec|La Bostonnais]] and [[Lac-Édouard, Quebec|Lac-Édouard]] separated and were reestablished.<ref name="toponymie"/>

In May 2010, some 120 [[May 2010 Quebec wildfires|forest fires broke out around La Tuque]], burning until June.<ref name="ottcit-aqi-may31">{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/life/Update+Ottawa+quality+very+poor+Quebec+forest+fire+smoke/3091990/story.html|title=Something in the air: Index more than doubles 2007 record for poor quality|date=May 31, 2010|access-date=2020-11-18|author= Jennifer Pagliaro|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="gazette-smog-may31">{{cite news |author=Harrold |first=Max |last2=Bruemmer |first2=René |date=2020-11-18 |title=Smog, smoke warnings from forest fires |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Smog+smoke+warnings+from+forest+fires/3089566/story.html |access-date=2010-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702164424/https://montrealgazette.com/news/Smog+smoke+warnings+from+forest+fires/3089566/story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2010}}</ref> Smoke from these fires reached portions of [[Eastern Ontario]] and southern Quebec, including the cities of [[Ottawa]] and [[Montreal]], as well as the northern [[United States of America|US]] states.<ref name="cbc-may31">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/forest-fire-smoke-blankets-montreal-ottawa-1.884173|date=May 31, 2010|access-date=2020-11-18|publisher=The [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|title=Forest fire smoke drifts over Montreal, Ottawa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Kantor, Ira |date=May 31, 2010 |title=Boston getting smoked by Canadian wildfires |url=http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1258515&pos=breaking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319225055/http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1258515&pos=breaking |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |publisher=The [[Boston Herald]]}}</ref><ref name="afp-blacksky-may31">{{cite news |date=2010-05-31 |title=Quebec forest fires black out skies |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5it5fERcY66DHpc-Px2oE9ORok15w |access-date=2020-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115082558/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5it5fERcY66DHpc-Px2oE9ORok15w |archive-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref>

In 2011, the 100th anniversary of La Tuque was celebrated with various cultural activities,<ref>{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Justice et faits divers- |title=Les célébrations du 100e anniversaire de La Tuque sont lancées |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/509249/centieme-ville-latuque |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Radio-Canada.ca |language=fr-ca}}</ref> including a large parade held on June 25<ref>{{Citation |title=Défilé du centenaire - La Tuque - 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y619txeJ24c |access-date=2023-03-07 |language=en}}</ref> as well as the creation of a recipe book made by local residents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-29 |title=Un livre de recettes dédié au centenaire de La Tuque |url=https://www.lenouvelliste.ca/2ee96c501ff378b7a7c3899135cbed73 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Le Nouvelliste |language=fr}}</ref>

==Geography==
While the urban area of La Tuque is relatively small, its entire territory is the largest city in Canada. It consists of almost all the entire former [[regional county municipality]] of [[Le Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality|Le Haut-Saint-Maurice]], and includes the settlements of Carignan, [[Clova, Quebec|Clova]], La Croche, Fitzpatrick, [[Kiskissink]], [[Oskélanéo]], [[Parent, Quebec|Parent]], Rapide-Blanc, Rivière-aux-Rats, and [[Sanmaur, Quebec|Sanmaur]].

Enclosed by but not administratively part of the city are the three [[First Nations reserves]] of [[Coucoucache, Quebec|Coucoucache]], [[Obedjiwan, Quebec|Obedjiwan]], and [[Wemotaci]].

Notable bodies of water in La Tuque are:
* [[Gouin Reservoir]]
* [[Lake Édouard (Quebec)|Lake Edouard]]
* [[Lake Kiskissink]]
* [[Lake Wayagamac]]
* [[Grand Lake Bostonnais]]
* [[Ventadour Lake (La Tuque)|Ventadour Lake]]

Notable rivers in La Tuque are:
* [[Saint-Maurice River|Saint-Maurice]]
* [[Vermillon River (La Tuque)|Vermillon]]
* [[Manouane River (La Tuque)|Manouane]]
* [[Croche River (La Tuque)|Croche]]
* [[Bostonnais River|Bostonnais]]
* [[Little Bostonnais River|Little Bostonnais]]
* [[Trenche River|Trenche]]

===Climate===
La Tuque has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb'') with warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

{{Weather box
|location = La Tuque, Quebec (1981–2010 normals)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 12.2
|Feb record high C = 12.0
|Mar record high C = 21.1
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 38.0
|Jul record high C = 37.2
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 33.3
|Oct record high C = 29.4
|Nov record high C = 21.1
|Dec record high C = 12.0

|Jan high C = -8.5
|Feb high C = -5.1
|Mar high C = 1.3
|Apr high C = 9.3
|May high C = 18.2
|Jun high C = 23.3
|Jul high C = 25.3
|Aug high C = 23.9
|Sep high C = 17.9
|Oct high C = 10.9
|Nov high C = 2.3
|Dec high C = -4.8

|Jan mean C = -14.8
|Feb mean C = -12.0
|Mar mean C = -5.2
|Apr mean C = 3.4
|May mean C = 11.1
|Jun mean C = 16.4
|Jul mean C = 18.8
|Aug mean C = 17.6
|Sep mean C = 12.3
|Oct mean C = 6.0
|Nov mean C = -1.7
|Dec mean C = -9.8

|Jan low C = -21.0
|Feb low C = -18.8
|Mar low C = -11.7
|Apr low C = -2.6
|May low C = 4.0
|Jun low C = 9.4
|Jul low C = 12.2
|Aug low C = 11.3
|Sep low C = 6.6
|Oct low C = 1.1
|Nov low C = -5.6
|Dec low C = -14.8

|Jan record low C = -44.4
|Feb record low C = -42.8
|Mar record low C = -40.0
|Apr record low C = -24.4
|May record low C = -9.4
|Jun record low C = -2.8
|Jul record low C = 0.0
|Aug record low C = -0.5
|Sep record low C = -7.0
|Oct record low C = -14.4
|Nov record low C = -26.7
|Dec record low C = -42.8

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 57.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 46.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 54.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 54.9
|May precipitation mm = 84.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 93.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 129.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 93.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 94.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 82.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 73.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 52.9

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 7.3
|Feb rain mm = 10.1
|Mar rain mm = 28.0
|Apr rain mm = 49.2
|May rain mm = 84.3
|Jun rain mm = 93.5
|Jul rain mm = 129.9
|Aug rain mm = 93.7
|Sep rain mm = 94.9
|Oct rain mm = 80.4
|Nov rain mm = 52.0
|Dec rain mm = 9.5

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 50.5
|Feb snow cm = 36.4
|Mar snow cm = 26.8
|Apr snow cm = 5.8
|May snow cm = 0.1
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 1.7
|Nov snow cm = 21.6
|Dec snow cm = 43.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 13.3
|Feb precipitation days = 10.5
|Mar precipitation days = 10.6
|Apr precipitation days = 10.8
|May precipitation days = 12.5
|Jun precipitation days = 14.0
|Jul precipitation days = 14.8
|Aug precipitation days = 14.5
|Sep precipitation days = 15.3
|Oct precipitation days = 14.2
|Nov precipitation days = 13.0
|Dec precipitation days = 13.8

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 1.3
|Feb rain days = 1.3
|Mar rain days = 4.6
|Apr rain days = 9.8
|May rain days = 13.5
|Jun rain days = 14.1
|Jul rain days = 15.4
|Aug rain days = 14.9
|Sep rain days = 16.2
|Oct rain days = 14.5
|Nov rain days = 8.4
|Dec rain days = 2.1

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 12.3
|Feb snow days = 9.9
|Mar snow days = 6.9
|Apr snow days = 2.3
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.6
|Nov snow days = 6.1
|Dec snow days = 12.5

|source = [[Environment Canada]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=La+Tuque&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5957&dispBack=1|title=La Tuque climate normals 1981-2010|date=25 September 2013|publisher=[[Environment Canada]]|access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], La Tuque had a population of {{val|11129|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|5543|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|6930|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:11129-11001}}|11001|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|11001|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|24809.4|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|11129|24809.4|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name="sc2021"/>
{{Canada census
 |location = La Tuque
 |2021_population=11,129 | 2021_pop_delta=+1.2  | 2021_land_area=24,809.40 | 2021_pop_density=0.4
 |2021_median_age=51.6 | 2021_median_age_m=50.8 | 2021_median_age_f=52.4
 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=6,930 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=5,543 |2021_mean_hh_income=59,600 
 |2021_geocode=2021A00052490012 | 2021_access_date=2023-01-09
 |2016_population=11,001 | 2016_pop_delta=-2.0 | 2016_land_area=25112.41 | 2016_pop_density=0.4
 |2016_median_age=51.1 | 2016_median_age_m=50.3 | 2016_median_age_f=51.7
 |2016_total_pvt_dwell=6,919 | 2016_mean_hh_income=51,014 | 2016_access_date=2023-01-09
 |2011_population=11,227 |2011_pop_delta=-5.0 |2011_land_area=25,113.70 |2011_pop_density=0.4
 |2011_median_age=48.6 |2011_median_age_m=47.9 |2011_median_age_f=49.2
 |2011_total_pvt_dwell=7,373 |2011_mean_hh_income=45,874 |2011_access_date=2014-04-27
 |2006_population=11,821 | 2006_pop_delta=-5.3 | 2006_land_area=25,104.59 | 2006_pop_density=0.5
 |2006_median_age=46.1 | 2006_median_age_m=45.3 | 2006_median_age_f=46.8
 |2006_total_pvt_dwell=6,438 | 2006_mean_hh_income=42,312 | 2006_access_date=2014-04-27
 |2001_population=11,298 | 2001_pop_delta=-6.6 | 2001_land_area=579.46 | 2001_pop_density=19.5
 |2001_median_age=42.3 | 2001_median_age_m=41.4 | 2001_median_age_f=43.4
 |2001_total_pvt_dwell=5,319 |2001_mean_hh_income=38,752 | 2001_access_date=2014-04-27
 |notes=
}}

{{Historical populations
| title= Historical Census Data - La Tuque, Quebec
| percentages = 
| shading = off
| align = none
| cols = 2
| 1921 |5603
| 1931 |7871
| 1941 |7919
| 1951 |9538
| 1956 |11096
| 1961 |13023
| 1966 |13554
| 1971 |13099
| 1976 |12067
| 1981 |11556
| 1986 |10723
| 1991 |12557
| 1996 |12102
| 2001 |11298
| 2006 |11821
| 2011 |11227
| 2016 |11001
| 2021 |11129
|source = Statistics Canada<ref name="sc2021"/><ref name="scpast">[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]], [[Canada 2001 Census|2001]], [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]], [[Canada 2011 Census|2011]] census</ref>
| footnote = Population amounts prior to 1993 are total of La Tuque V and Haute-Mauricie SD. (A) adjustment due to boundary change.
}}

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="19"|Canada Census Mother Tongue - La Tuque, Quebec<ref name="scpast"/>
|-
! Census
|
! Total
|colspan="1"| 
!colspan="3"|{{center|French}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|English}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|French & English}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|Other}}
|-
! Year
|
! Responses
| 
! Count
! Trend
! Pop % 
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|-
| {{center|2021}}
|
| {{center|11,040}}
|
| 10,260
| {{increase}} 1.3%
| 92.9%
|
| 155
| {{decrease}} 13.9%
| 1.4%
|
| 95
| {{increase}} 35.7%
| 0.9%
|
| 430
| {{increase}} 2.4%
| 3.9%
|-
| {{center|2016}}
|
| {{center|10,830}}
|
| 10,125
| {{decrease}} 3.2%
| 93.5%
|
| 180
| {{steady}} 0.0%
| 1.7%
|
| 70
| {{increase}} 40.0%
| 0.6%
|
| 420
| {{increase}} 29.2%
| 3.9%
|-
| {{center|2011}}
|
| {{center|11,010}}
|
| 10,455
| {{decrease}} 5.6%
| 95.0%
|
| 180
| {{decrease}} 5.3%
| 1.6%
|
| 50
| {{increase}} 150.0%
| 0.5%
|
| 325
| {{increase}} 8.3%
| 3.0%
|-
| {{center|2006}}
|
| {{center|11,590}}
|
| 11,080
| {{increase}} 3.6%
| 95.6%
|
| 190
| {{increase}} 5.5%
| 1.6%
|
| 20
| {{decrease}} 66.7%
| 0.2%
|
| 300
| {{increase}} 33.3%
| 2.6%
|-
| {{center|2001}}
|
| {{center|11,160}}
|
| 10,695
| {{decrease}} 6.2%
| 95.8%
|
| 180
| {{decrease}} 53.8%
| 1.6%
|
| 60
| {{increase}} 100.0%
| 0.5%
|
| 225
| {{increase}} 60.7%
| 2.0%
|-
| {{center|1996}}
|
| {{center|11,965}}
|
| 11,405
| n/a
| 95.3%
|
| 390
| n/a
| 3.3%
|
| 30
| n/a
| 0.3%
|
| 140
| n/a
| 1.2%
|}

=== Territorial equivalent ===
{{Historical populations
| title= Historical Census Data - La Tuque TE, Quebec
| percentages = 
| shading = off
| align = right
| cols = 
| 2003E |15862
| 2006 |15448
| 2011 |15130
| 2016 |15059
| 2021 |15038
| footnote = (E) established on March 26, 2003.
| source = Statistics Canada<ref name="sc2021-TE"/>
}}

The population of the La Tuque territorial equivalent according to the [[Canada 2021 Census]] is 15,038.<ref name="sc2021-TE">{{cite web |title=La Tuque, Territoire équivalent (TÉ) Quebec [Census division] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=la%20tuque&DGUIDlist=2021A00032490&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>
{{Canada census
 |location=La Tuque TE, Quebec
 |2021_population=15,038 | 2021_pop_delta=-0.1 | 2021_land_area=26031.84 | 2021_pop_density=0.6
 |2021_median_age=45.2 | 2021_median_age_m=44.8 | 2021_median_age_f=45.6
 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=8,394 | 2021_mean_hh_income=61,600 |2021_geocode=2021A00052490012 | 2021_access_date=2023-01-09
 |2016_population=15,059 | 2016_pop_delta=-0.5 | 2016_land_area=26356.13 | 2016_pop_density=0.6
 |2016_median_age=44.6 | 2016_median_age_m=43.6 | 2016_median_age_f=45.9
 |2016_total_pvt_dwell=8,360 | 2016_mean_hh_income=51,384 | 2016_access_date=2023-01-09
 |2011_population=15,130 |2011_pop_delta=-2.1 |2011_land_area=26,356.98 |2011_pop_density=0.6
 |2011_median_age=43.2 |2011_median_age_m=41.9 |2011_median_age_f=44.4
 |2011_total_pvt_dwell=9,040 |2011_mean_hh_income=45,484 |2011_access_date=2014-04-27
 |2006_population=15,448 | 2006_pop_delta=-2.6 | 2006_land_area=26,349.80 | 2006_pop_density=0.6
 |2006_median_age=42.2 | 2006_median_age_m=41.4 | 2006_median_age_f=43.0
 |2006_total_pvt_dwell=7,675 | 2006_mean_hh_income=42,333 | 2006_access_date=2014-04-27
 |notes=
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Smurfit-Stone La Tuque 1.jpg|thumb|right|The paper mill in La Tuque]]
The local economy centres on [[pulp and paper]]; the city has a pulp-milling centre as well as a major [[hydroelectric]] station.

As the gateway to the upper Mauricie, La Tuque's economy also offers outdoor tourism opportunities and caters to hunting and fishing trips in its large [[hinterland]], which is partially regulated by the following {{Lang|fr|[[zone d'exploitation contrôlée]]s}}:
* [[Zec de la Croche]]
* [[Zec de la Bessonne]]
* [[Zec Borgia]]
* [[Zec Frémont]]
* [[Zec du Gros-Brochet]]
* [[Zec Jeannotte, Québec]]
* [[Zec Kiskissink]]
* [[Zec Menokeosawin]]
* [[Zec Tawachiche]]
* [[Zec Wessonneau]]

==Government==

===Urban agglomeration===
[[File:Quebec MRC La Tuque location map.svg|right|thumb|upright=1]]
[[File:La Tuque centre-ville et rivière Saint-Maurice.jpg|upright=1|thumb|right|Urban area of La Tuque City seen from west shore of Saint-Maurice River]]
The '''Urban agglomeration of La Tuque''' is an [[urban agglomeration (Quebec)|urban agglomeration]] that consists of:
*the city of La Tuque,
*the municipality of [[La Bostonnais, Quebec|La Bostonnais]],
*the municipality of [[Lac-Édouard, Quebec|Lac-Édouard]].

The agglomeration comprises the elements of the redefined city of La Tuque as it existed after amalgamation on March 26, 2003, including the two municipalities that chose to de-merge on January 1, 2006.

The agglomeration of La Tuque succeeded to the [[regional county municipality]] of [[Le Haut-Saint-Maurice|Haut-Saint-Maurice]], which was created in 1982 from part of the [[Quebec ridings]]'s (county's) of [[Champlain (provincial electoral district)|Champlain electoral district]], of [[Québec (provincial electoral district)|Quebec electoral district]] of [[Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)|Saint-Maurice]] and of [[Abitibi County, Quebec|Abitibi]].  Le Haut-Saint-Maurice was dissolved during the merger of all municipalities in 2003 to create the city of La Tuque. Following the referendum on recreating [[La Bostonnais, Quebec|La Bostonnais]] and [[Lac-Édouard, Quebec|Lac-Édouard]], the agglomeration of La Tuque was created to allow municipalities to manage in common some competencies.

===Census division===
'''La Tuque''' is a [[territory equivalent to a regional county municipality]] (TE) and [[Census geographic units of Canada|census division]] of [[Quebec]], with geographical code 90. The TE of La Tuque consists of:
*the municipalities of the [[urban agglomerations of Quebec|urban agglomeration]] of La Tuque, namely
:*the city of La Tuque
:*the municipality of [[La Bostonnais, Quebec|La Bostonnais]]
:*the municipality of [[Lac-Édouard, Quebec|Lac-Édouard]]
*three [[Indian reserve]]s, namely
:*[[Coucoucache, Quebec|Coucoucache]]
:*[[Wemotaci, Quebec|Wemotaci]]
:*[[Obedjiwan, Quebec|Obedjiwan]]

===List of mayors===
The mayor is the municipality's highest elected official. La Tuque has had fifteen mayors, since its incorporation as a city.<ref>[http://www.tourismehsm.qc.ca/LISTE%20MAIRES%20LA%20TUQUE.pdf  Liste des maires, Ville de La Tuque, 1909 à 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304224227/http://www.tourismehsm.qc.ca/LISTE%20MAIRES%20LA%20TUQUE.pdf |date=2009-03-04 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Mayor
! Taking office
! Leaving
|- 
| 1
| Wenceslas Plante
| 1911
| 1915
|- 
| 2
| Alphondor Roy
| 1915
| 1920
|- 
| 3
| Donat E. Hardy
| 1920
| 1921
|- 
| 4
| Wellie Juneau
| 1921
| 1921
|- 
| 5
| Réal Gravel
| 1921
| 1923
|- 
| 1
| Wenceslas Plante
| 1923
| 1927
|- 
| 6
| François-Xavier Lamontagne
| 1927
| 1935
|- 
| 7
| Joseph-Omer Journeault<ref>Journeault ran as a [[Bloc Populaire Canadien|Bloc Populaire]] candidate in the [[1944 Quebec general election|provincial election of 1944]] in the district of [[Laviolette (electoral district)|Laviolette]].  He finished third.</ref>
| 1935
| 1944
|- 
| 8
| Omer Veillette
| 1944
| 1947
|- 
| 7
| Joseph-Omer Journeault
| 1947
| 1951
|-
| 9
| Léo-Joffre Pilon<ref>Pilon ran as a [[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate in the [[1952 Quebec general election|1952]] and the [[1956 Quebec general election|1956]] provincial elections in the district of [[Laviolette (electoral district)|Laviolette]].  He was each time defeated by incumbent [[Romulus Ducharme]].</ref>
| 1951
| 1955
|- 
| 10
| J.-Onésime Dallaire
| 1955
| 1961
|- 
| 11
| Lucien Filion<ref>Lucien Filion ran as a [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] candidate in the [[1970 Quebec general election|provincial election of 1970]] in the district of [[Laviolette (electoral district)|Laviolette]].  He finished third.</ref>
| 1961
| 1985<ref>Lucien Filion dies in office on September 22, 1985.</ref>
|- 
| 12
| Clément Filion
| 1985
| 1985
|- 
| 13
| André Duchesneau
| 1985
| 1991
|- 
| 14
| Gaston Fortin<ref>Fortin ran as a [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] candidate in the [[1976 Quebec general election|provincial election of 1976]] and as a [[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate in the [[1994 Quebec general election|provincial election of 1994]] in the district of [[Laviolette (electoral district)|Laviolette]].  Each time he lost to [[Jean-Pierre Jolivet]].</ref>
| 1991
| 2003
|- 
| 15
| Réjean Gaudreault<ref>Gaudreault admits that he generally supports the [[Parti Québécois]] in provincial elections, even though municipal elections in La Tuque are officially on a non-partisan basis.  [http://www.lhebdomekinacdeschenaux.com/article-271244-Le-maire-Gaudreault-approche-par-le-PQ.html  Patrick Vaillancourt, Le maire Gaudreault approché par le PQ, L'Hebdo Mékinac des Chenaux, November 13, 2008]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| 2003
| 2009
|-
| 16
| Normand Beaudoin
| 2009
| 2017
|-
| 17
| Pierre-David Tremblay
| 2017
| 2021
|-
| 18
| Luc Martel
| 2021
|
|}

==Infrastructure==
The main highway is [[Quebec Route 155]] that connects La Tuque with [[Shawinigan]] to the south and the [[Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean]] region to the north. Numerous forest roads provide access to remote hunting and fishing camps, and the village of [[Parent, Quebec|Parent]] is accessible by a {{convert|175|km|mi}} long gravel road from [[Mont-Saint-Michel, Quebec|Mont-Saint-Michel]] in the [[Laurentides region]].

[[Image:Via Rail La Tuque.jpg|thumb|La Tuque Railway Station]]
The [[Canadian National Railway]] dissects La Tuque's territory. This railway, built in 1910 by the [[National Transcontinental Railway]], connected [[Quebec City]] to the [[Canadian Prairies]] and goes through vast wilderness areas of northern Quebec and Ontario. While it was intended to ship grain from the prairies to the [[Port of Quebec]] and to open up virgin territories, it never carried much rail traffic. However, it is still serviced by [[Via Rail]] at the [[La Tuque railway station]] and [[Parent railway station]], with request stops at [[Fitzpatrick railway station|Fitzpatrick]], [[Oskélanéo, Quebec|Oskélanéo]], and [[Clova railway station|Clova]]. Other sidings along the line are [[Casey, Quebec|Casey]], [[Hibbard, Quebec|Hibbard]], [[Cann, Quebec|Cann]], [[Sanmaur, Quebec|Sanmaur]], [[Vandry, Quebec|Vandry]], [[Windigo, Quebec|Windigo]], and [[Rapide-Blanc-Station]].

The [[La Tuque Airport]] is located directly south of the town's centre on Route 155. [[La Tuque Water Aerodrome]] is located just north of the city centre.

==Notable people==
* [[:fr:Mathieu Fortin|Mathieu Fortin]], writer
*[[Maude Guérin]], actress
*[[Félix Leclerc]] (1914–1988), singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and [[Québécois people|Québécois]] political activist
*[[Sylvie Roy]], politician
*[[James Renald]], musician
*[[Gaétan Barrette]], politician
*[[Steven Guilbeault]], politician

==See also==

* [[La Tuque Water Aerodrome]]
* [[21st-century municipal history of Quebec]]
* [[Municipal reorganization in Quebec]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|La Tuque}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20100309124613/http://www.ville.latuque.qc.ca/vlt/ City of La Tuque official website]

{{Geographic location
 | title     = Adjacent Municipal Subdivisions
 | Centre    = La Tuque
 | North     = [[Lac-Ashuapmushuan, Quebec|Lac-Ashuapmushuan]]
 | Northeast = [[Lac-Bouchette, Quebec|Lac-Bouchette]]<br />[[Lac-Moncouche, Quebec|Lac-Moncouche]]
 | East      = [[Lac-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec|Lac-Jacques-Cartier]]<br />[[Lac-Croche, Quebec|Lac-Croche]]<br />[[Lac-Édouard, Quebec|Lac-Édouard]]<br />[[La Bostonnais, Quebec|La Bostonnais]]
 | Southeast = [[Lac-Lapeyrère, Quebec|Lac-Lapeyrère]], [[Linton, Quebec|Linton]]
 | South     = [[Lac-De La Bidière, Quebec|Lac-de-la-Bidière]], [[Lac-Bazinet, Quebec|Lac-Bazinet]], [[Baie-Obaoca, Quebec|Baie-Obaoca]], [[Lac-Normand, Quebec|Lac-Normand]], [[Trois-Rives, Quebec|Trois-Rives]], [[Lac-Masketsi]]
 | Southwest = [[Dépôt-Échouani, Quebec|Dépôt-Échouani]]
 | West      = [[Senneterre]]
 | Northwest = [[Eeyou Istchee James Bay]]
}}
{{La Tuque TE|state=expanded}}
{{Administrative divisions of Quebec region|Mauricie}}
{{Subdivisions of Quebec}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:La Tuque, Quebec| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Quebec]]